Keeping Pace With Online Learning

The Annual NACOL Virtual School Symposium announced the 2008
"Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning" . Note below several
links regarding this report.
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Report assesses K-12 online learning
While online learning is growing rapidly, its continued growth will require specific policy and funding changes that focus on increasing educational choices and opportunities while ensuring high quality and improved student achievement, according to a new report. Read More
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"Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning," the fifth in an annual series of reports examining the online-learning landscape, debuted at the North American Council for Online Learning's (NACOL's) Virtual School Symposium on October 27. The report recommends several policies to increase online learning options for students. Link: Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning 2008
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Don't forget to visit the Online Learning for High School Success resource center. Preventing high school dropouts has become a key focus of education stakeholders and government officials across the country, as the skills taught in high school are imperative to students' success. But with online credit recovery programs and virtual learning becoming more accessible to more students, many are able to regain momentum and graduate with high school diplomas. Go to: Online Learning for High School Success
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International Distance Learning Day in the virtual world of Second Life: The French Connection

The US Distance Learning Association is sponsoring National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) held on November 10-14, 2008 and seeks to promote and celebrate the tremendous growth and accomplishments occurring today in distance learning programs offered by schools, businesses, and governmental departments (USDLA).

In support of this initiative, and highlighting the global reach of virtual environments, several organizations are collaborating to present and celebrate the tremendous potential of the virtual world of Second Life for distance learning. On November 10th, a full-day conference is scheduled that will include presentations from within Second Life and in real life at the University of Paris IV-Sorbonne. Those attending in Second Life should go to Selmo Park: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Selmo%20Park/67/174/26

Presentations will begin November 10 at 12:30 am SLT and run through 8:00 am SLT
“We hope that you will join us by logging in to Second Life and teleporting to Selmo Park to attend the presentations virtually,” said Bryan Carter, Conference Coordinator. “The live presentations will be broadcast into Second Life. There is no charge to attend the event at Selmo Park in Life.”

Those attending in Second Life need to have audio capability and the latest version of Quick Time to view events from the real world.

The first presentation will be at 9:30 am Paris time/12:30 am SLT students of the L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris “Eden of the Lost Animal.”

Other featured speakers include Bryan Carter, University of Central Missouri; Ed Lamoureaux, Bradley University; Jeremy Kemp, San Jose State University; Claudia Linden from Linden Labs; AJ Kelton from Montclair State University; Tim Linder Meramec Art Department; Beth Ritter-Gluth, Literature Alive, and more (see schedule).

Collaborating organizations include: University of Central Missouri, the Alliance Virtual Library in Second Life, the Bibliotheque Francophone, and the L’Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs de Paris. For more information about this exciting day, please contact Bryan Carter at bc7@mac.com.

Orientations for those new to sl will be held in Selmo Park on Sunday, November 9.
12noon SLT - Georgette Whitfield will do hers in French and English for the European time zones.

1pm SLT - Daisyblue Hefferman will do those in US time zones
People are free to attend either one.

Location slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Selmo%20Park/67/174/26

Texas Expands Virtual School

by Dave Nagel

According to information released , the Texas Virtual Academy at Southwest (TXVA) has received approval from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to expand its service area and enroll more students from across the state. The move will double the number of students that can enroll in the school, which is operated by K12 Inc. and Southwest Schools under TEA's two-year-old Electronic Course Program.

According to the school, it will now be able to enroll up to 1,500 students from 13 regional education service centers (regions 1 through 8, 10 through 13, and 20). In 2007-2008, it served 750 students from three regions. The school serves students in grades 3 through 8.

"Our goal at Southwest Schools is to give students access to high quality educational opportunities," said Janelle James, COO and CAO for Southwest Schools, in a statement released Monday. "TXVA provides an exciting education experience that provides kids with the benefit of personalized learning along with public school structure and accountability. We are grateful for the leadership and guidance of Kate Loughrey from TEA's Department of Distance Learning as we've expanded this program to meet the needs of more children across the state."

Web-based learning will be provided through the K12 Online School, a system that's being used by some 40,000 students in 17 states in statewide public and other e-learning programs. Through the tuition-free program, students will have access to standard core subjects (language arts, math, science, etc.). Course materials are shipped to students' homes for courses that require textbooks, hands-on materials, or other supplies. State-certified teachers facilitate learning through the program.